You soon get some time alone with Elena after, where you have a chance to ask what you will. The two of you are walking down to your quarters here, Elena whistling away and carrying a little basket of little cake bites with her. She munches on them slowly, and you swear you can feel the contentment radiate off of her.
Go ahead.
"Would you mind looking at something for me?" Moore asks. He takes out the parchment with what he's figured out thus far of Calley's research and offers it over to her. "You don't have to tell me anything you don't want to, but this what I believe to be a key to finding Sylvie."
"Oh," Elena says, "I've seen you working on that around here." The research is taken and looked at...and in moments Elena's eyes cross, "...eh?!"
"If you're not sure about it, that's okay." Moore says with a smile. "But I would appreciate any leads you have on libraries, especially ones that you might all of a sudden be able to remember?" He looks over with a broad smile.
Elena wobbles back and forth before going ghostly, gone and then back besides you. "That's too much," she says, "Sorry, libraries what now?"
"Are you aware of any secret libraries or ones that may have come up that aren't common knowledge?" Moore asks with a smile.
"Well..." Elena waits until you're in your room with her. She smiles, "You know that one spell Tepen made, the library spell?"
"I use it all the time." Moore says with a nod.
"Why don't you go to that library?" Elena says pleasantly.
"...Sorry, do you mean... go to Tepen?" Moore asks.
"Oh, well..." Elena says, "Medi spent some time studying ideas and the idea of super ideas - where ideas come from and how they manifest in deities through deific action, portfolios and the essential combination between them and the living reality of an evolving knowledgescape, especially if you accept the theory that knowledge is self evolving by its basic nature, since that means you have to logically accept some version of philosophical idealism."
Moore opens his mouth, blinks, then closes it. "So... you mean..."
He takes a breath in as he tries to sort out the words. "You mean to say I should see if I'm able to, in some sense, find the thing that powers that spell, the bit of magic, or the idea, that allows it to function -- in essence, the piece of information that links yourself to libraries?"
"Something like that? Medi talked about ideas and the like," Elena admits, "I don't really follow most of it, it's very theoretical."
"Did he write any of it down anywhere? I mean, I can probably talk to Oghma or something about it at worst..." Moore supposes. "But having a starting point would be helpful."
A headshake, "He made it anathemic, or something made it anathemic. I'm not clear on what happened," Elena admits, scratching at her cheek. "Not the idea, just...the particular way he was researching it, I think. He never got around to tell me why or what happened."
"Well, as you may or may not remember, I think I can handle that part of things now." Moore says with a beaming smile. "I'll find a way to figure it out."
"Be careful," Elena chides, then, "Is there anything else?"
"I don't think so." Moore says. "But get ahold of me if you need anything."
Time to go back home and see if anything's happened in the last week!
Sure, gimme a quick d100.
[11:35] <Nephrite> roll 1d100
[11:35] <Kobot> Nephrite rolled 1d100 --> [ 1d100=77 ]{77}
!!!
You return back. Things are peaceful and yet Grias flies up as you enter, "Moore, Moore," he calls, looping about int he air as he approaches.
"Hi, Grias. Sorry for being gone so long. What's up?" He asks as he tries to follow the lantern archon around.
Grias says, "There's a lot of things you missed," he begins right away, "You also have messages from Ilsenine, Romiel, Ebony, Ruby and um....Tyr."
"Okay. What else have I missed?" He asks.
Tyr? Is about the tower? No...
"Well, Kaja was off to Bahamut's Palace a few days but he's back now," Grias begins, "Cresiel was training the entire time, but went out for a few trips and meanwhile Jetina practiced her magic a lot but had some allies come ove rand they talked about a quest, and those blackstone weapons too," Grias says, "Plus there was that lore drop off which is in your room to be read at leisure."
Moore nods. "All right. Thanks for the update."
With that, he will go read the letters -- Tyr's is first, just due to a variety of factors.
The message is simple and to the point.
'Duke Moore, you are hereby summoned to present yourself before Tyr, the Maimed God. Come to the House of the Triad and come to the Court of the Vigilant Paladin.'
Moore blinks as he turns the letter over.
There's no mention of a timeframe, but...
He sighs and puts the letter down -- he'd best not keep them waiting.
He will go get whomever wishes to go with him, hit up the Blessed Stone and then go directly to the Court of the Vigilant Paladin if possible.
You find Kaja, Cresiel and Jetina all volunteer.
"This will be no small matter, such a summons is not trivial," Cresiel says, "I will go with you."
"I wish to meet him, too," Jetina says, "It's a rare honor - well, for most. We aren't most," she confesses.
Kaja merely crosses his arms and slowly cracks his neck before, "No reason not to go, Jetina's right. Xandra said she'd mind Hope's Landing in case this takes some time."
Moore nods.
"I have no idea what this is about, though I have some guesses." He says.
With that, a bit of magic and they're off!
If they can go directly to the Court then they will, otherwise they'll go to the House of the Triad and find their way there.
The Court of Paladins is a circle. A great circle, lined by what must be thousands of statues of brave warriors. Warriors brave and true to the last - and yet as you watch, another appears and another. Statues of men and women, of all races great and small. It is a steady increase. Here a great cloud of planetars see to them - they tend the statues old and new. They never stop, in motion and seeing to them.
Within the circle is open space save for a throne. This throne is of gold and glory, a painful thing to look at. You feel the resonation of a thousand battlecries in your mind, feel the pain of a million wounds suffered for a better tomorrow. As each new statue appears, yet more seems to come from the throne.
The figure that sits on this throne is a tall, powerful warrior. One of his hands is gone, but otherwise he is clad in heavy armor, tall and proud. He is yet old, a long white beard, but his body has no sign of infirmity.
"Approach," Tyr says from his throne, "You are expected, Duke Moore."
Moore will fly forward and kneel down, as is the proper thing to do in a situation such as this!
The others join you. After long moments Tyr rises from his throne, a gesture from his good hand. In an instant the circle is clear, save for the statues that seem to spread impossibly far and forever. "Rise," Tyr commands.
Moore pulls himself up to flutter in front of Tyr!
He's... rather curious why they're there, but he has a feeling that part is coming next.
Your friends do so as well, all silent.
"What do you know of Torm," Tyr asks, to the point.
In this case, I'd say he'll take 10 on whatever relevant Ks are here (108 for all of them unless it's Religion in which case it's 111) for anything that he'd normally be aware of.
Was Torm the one who went missing?
Torm was the one who fell a few thousand years ago and became the Hateful Fury. Do you need a refresher on it?
The one who left the void Auril took over, right?
Either way, yes, a brief primer would be helpful.
No, that was Talos.
Torm used to be an LG deity woh oversaw things like honor and paladins and all those things. Shit went really wrong against the God-King and he ultimately fell hard is the long and short of it.
Too many T's.
"My most basic understanding is he oversaw honor, paladins and things of that nature, and he ultimately fell." Moore says, simply. "More specific than that I am unaware of."
Tyr nods, "We're going to get him back, one day," Tyr says, "Hope will need to be a part of that to reach him."
Moore's head tilts a very small amount.
"Of course, I would have no doubt of that." He says, afterwhich he does smile a small amount. "Is that the main reason I've been asked here today?"
"Yes," Tyr says, "When that day comes, it will be no easy task and many resources and heroes will be drawn on to achieve it."
Moore nods, bowing low once. "I'm honored that you believe I can be of some assistance."
"I ask many for aid in this," Tyr turns to you, offering you his good hand. "Many others work on this task in various means and angles. Should I need it, can I count on your aid when this day comes?"
Moore offers his (much smaller) hand to shake Tyr's.
"Hope will be there, without fail." Moore says.
"Then you are a friend of this realm," Tyr decrees, "One of the True who stand to make right what went wrong."
Moore bows his head again. "You honor me with such words, Lord Tyr."
A smile breaks out across his face. "Please, do not hesitate to send any in need of Hope to me, I will do all I can."
In that there is agreement, a moment of understanding and connection.
"The way of Celestia," Cresiel murmurs.
Moore smiles and bows once more.
"Thank you for having us, Lord Tyr." Moore says. "Is there anything else for now?"
"Not for now, but later..." Tyr says, "One day."
"One day." Moore says with a smile.
"By your leave, then." He says, as he waits for that. Once they're dismissed, he will return them all to Hope's Landing!
And let out a deep breath of relief when they're there.
"Were you worried?" Cresiel asks, and quieter, "Why?"
Kaja smiles sharply, "I liked him. He's very direct and has little need for games, does he?"
Moore turns to Cresiel with a smile. "It's a feeling that's hard to shake -- when someone calls you into an important office to talk to you on a subject you're not necessarily familiar with, it creates a lot of worry."
A nod to Kaja at that. "I do appreciate straight-forwardness."
Assuming no other shenanigans, it's back to the other letters, to continue with Ilsenine's!
The letter is short and to the point.
Moore
I dreamed of Gathgorian looming above you.
Is all well? Has his shadow darkened your doorstep again?
Moore will have to communicate with his ring to her later.
He moves on to the one from Ebony!
The letter reads as follows.
I refuse to call you 'Rella, Canderella. Dear Canderella:
I hope you are well in your current situation, and do not find the climes of Ice too intolerable. Nonetheless, allow me to quote, 'Adversity leads to growth, and all growth leads to greater chances for moral clarity.' A quote from Ilmater, one that I feel suits your situation well.
In other words: I'm sorry. In a quote said by far too many, 'It seemed like a good idea at the time'. I can assure you she is not truly upset, but the situation required what it did. While I doubt it will do you any favors while you complete this task, you deserve to hear it. I hope you are back by week's end, as I owe you a warm seat, a warmer cup of tea and yet warmer hug. Accepting the quest without complaint speaks well of you, as does the interest of all side to let bygones be bygones. Once this is done, I will invite you to Sylica at our next leisure, where we can personally put this matter to rest.
We will even go looking for, and can you hear me sigh, 'electric dates'. Should that be anything more than teasing, but in my heart I do not believe you did tease me. Perhaps one of us will find a true love, though I confess I find it unlikely by the very premise. Let alone with your particular...ah, proclivities and interests. I must confess again that I find your interest in these puzzling, but perhaps they have more emotions and feelings that I would expect from their ilk.
With love, affection and the hopes that you are not too frostbitten.
Ebony.
Moore blinks.
He blinks again.
"Oh dear." He murmurs. "I wonder if she sent two by mistake...?"
He uses his Sending Stone!
'Ebony, hello. Did you, by any chance, send me a letter recently?'
'Yes, I did. Was something unclear within it?' Ebony sends back. 'Or amiss?'
'The letter meant for Canderella arrived instead. I assume Canderella received mine. I plan on using a quick spell to forget everything in this letter and will be returning it to you. Do you mind telling me the contents of the one meant for me?'
'...ah. My apologies. There is no need to forget it, it is not any great secret. Merely do not speak unneededly of it?' Ebony replies.
Moore will neatly put the letter back to have it re-delivered to Aurora, nonetheless.
'You have my word. Was there anything in the letter to me you wish to let me know? Otherwise, I can wait.'
'It is routine,' Ebony sends back, 'I will recompose it and resend it, while hastening another letter to Canderella. Her reply makes far too much sense now.'
'Be well, my friend.'
He then will take a look at Ruby's!
It is a fancy slip of paper, thick, white and creamy. Beautiful red drawings of flowers and flame adorn it.
Sisatar and Ruby wish to cordially invite you to a Benediction of the Eggs, which will be followed with a soiree at Maldyson's. The exact date shall be determined once all interested parties are determined, through various and sundry magical services to ensure a date all can attend.
You are welcome to bring up to two guests. All provisions, including a night's lodging, shall be covered.
Would my nice Knowledge checks tell me offhand what a Benediction of the Eggs is? I mean, he has a pretty good idea...
108 on whatever the relevant ones would be unless it's something super specialized.
Also, in addition to that, what is Maldyson's? Same check.
Moore will think for a moment of who to invite... Jetina for certain, and perhaps Kaja?
A Benediction of the Eggs is a rare ceremony. Occasionally, a dragon will have a ceremony for their freshly laid eggs to be blessed by a cleric - usually a draconic deity but not always. As mother dragons are intensely territorial of anything around their eggs, most don't have the mindset for it.
Maldyson's is a extremely nice and expensive restaurant in Brightwater. It's great if you want to bleed coins and eat in the lap of luxury.
Definitely Jetina and Kaja.
He will write something simple!
'Miss Ruby,
I would be delighted to attend. I will bring Jetina, whom you know, as well as Kaja, a half-dragon comrade of mine.
Thank you for the offer.
-Duke Moore of Celestia'.
And there was one more... Romiel, I think?
Yes.
Romiel's is dry - it's a discussion of the obsidian weapons, a recap and a recount. Nothing interesting, just a summary, a listing of them and a counting.
Just as a point of order, Moore would've also given the location of the forge to Romiel. I can't remember if they actually did that IC, but if not, here's your notice on it.
With that done, it's time to look at the lore!
108 on the Ks, 103 on the Spellcrafts.
Sure, no problem.
Which lore, to be clear?
Grias mentioned I had lore to review.
Oh, dur.
It looks like a bit of gathered lore. It's nothing hugely revelatory, but it does point out a few more parts.
4 points. Total?
419.
With all of that done, he will see his letter back to Ruby is sent by Grias, before he will take a look at dealing with all those flawed weapons and armors.
So I'm guessing there are going to be multiple Wish spells needed, Moore's goal is to just fix them up so they aren't flawed -- he doesn't need to do anything else magical to them.
That's fine, it'll just take some time. Do you care how long it takes?
We don't seem to have anything pressing going on at the moment, so it taking time is fine.
It takes several days and aid, but soon enough the obsidian weapons are fixed.
There were armors too, does this count that as well?
In total, how much, exactly, are we looking at in terms of quantity/worth? I mean, he's probably just going to give it all to Jovar, but It'd be nice to know the value.
About 100,000 or so, give or take. It's a lot.
Okay. Let's do this -- we'll have a vault added to Hope's Landing and store 2500 weapons and 2500 armors there in case of an emergency. Let's donate 90000 of them to Jovar to distribute as they see fit, or enchant, or whatever, and then we can give the other 5000 units to the traders and they can do whatever they want with them.
Okay, pie on face moment: I meant in gold value, it was off the cuff since it wasn't going to matter much. Doing the math that's also a little low on the numbers I wanted due to masterwork weapons being expensive, so I'm going to revise the previous post.
There's a mix of weapons made regular by repairs and masterwork weapons. There's approximately 100 masterwork weapons of various types and 5000 non masterwork weapons. For armor it's approximately 150 sets of masterwork armor of various types and 10000 sets of non masterwork armor.
Okay. I thought that did seem a little high (but I was still hoping!)
In that case:
The masterwork weapons and armor all go to Jovar.
1000 non-masterwork weapons and 1000 non-masterwork armors get given to the traders to Do As They Will, unless they don't want them in any capacity.
The rest of it can also go to Jovar or otherwise just be donated to Celestia in some capacity. So that's the other 4000 non-masterwork weapons and 9000 non-masterwork armors.
There's no real need for a vault I think in hindsight since they can just get what they need somewhere else, and if there's an emergency then I assume Jovar is supplying anyway.
Okay, that'll sort out. In the meantime as I do, next move?
That is an excellent question. We still have The Wheel to deal with, but I think for now Moore would like to try and pursue this mention of "super ideas" in some capacity.
Really, the only way he knows how best to do that is by taking a stroll through Mount Celestia, though he has a feeling Oghma may be the right choice as well.
He'll start with the stroll.
Everyone else can stay unless someone really wants to go with him.
It's Cresiel's turn to watch Moore, so he'll come along.
As you head out of Hope's Landing, "Where in Celestia do you wish to go, Moore?"
"I'm not sure yet." Moore says. "When I was in Aurora, I helped with something that was a gift from Medi to Elena. It helped her remember a lot of things that they'd talked about. One of those things is a concept... like... it's the concept of a 'super idea,' or something along those lines -- the thing in Creation that gives an idea its power, the thing that actually solidifies into that 'thing' that exists, if that makes sense."
"So you're chasing a theory that may or may not be true?" Cresiel surmises, "Are you certain this is a path of wisdom?"
"I think if Medi pursued the idea, there's wisdom in it." Moore says. "But I can't know anything for certain until I learn more about it."
"As you wish," Cresiel falls in with you, "Lead on."
Every idea has to start with the most basic thing, so he starts to walk forward in Lunia.
Sure, give me a d100.
[21:55] <Nephrite> roll 1d100
[21:55] <Kobot> Nephrite rolled 1d100 --> [ 1d100=50 ]{50}
You wander out. Below you see the trading enclave is busier - a few people are coming and going at any time, signs of progress for sure.
Moore nods with a smile. It's good that that's moving.
He continues on.
You wander a time. The beaches are peaceful and quiet. Not much of anything happens for a good handful of hours, only the peace and warmth of the light above.
Hm.
Perhaps he needs to think more about what it is he's searching for?
The very concept of a... concept, is it?
As you consider your next move?
"The beach is pleasant," Cresiel muses aloud, "A swim could do us good."
Moore blinks out of his thoughts.
"You think so?" He turns to look at the water.
"After all that nonsense in Fire, I think I agree." He says.
He will move over to the water to dive in -- thoughts still lingering on what wisdom he hopes to achieve.
You have a breathing necklace, right?
I do.
The waters are cool and pleasant, bright as you swim. As you do...
d100.
[22:39] <Nephrite> roll 1d100
[22:39] <Kobot> Nephrite rolled 1d100 --> [ 1d100=82 ]{82}
You swim about a time. In due time you spot it - a shark swims the waters, coming in your general direction. A light gray shark, a large beast that cuts through the waters with a deadly speed.
Moore continues on -- a shark isn't any threat to him, and may even be friendly!
Cresiel stays by your side as the shark...merely swims by.
As it does, it turns to look at you, sharp and keen eyes studying your face.
Moore merely gives it a smile -- he may not speak shark (well, he can) but he ensures that he portrays no malice or hostility.
Give me Diplo, just because what.
Take 10 for 120.
Not a single attack towards you, the shark going past otherwise without incident.
Moore continues on!
Cool, one more d100.
[blockquote]Rolled 1d100 : 53, total 53[/blockquote]
Swimming is nice, but nothing of note seems to be happening around the shores, either.
Perhaps... deeper? He did have to go deep into water before.
He decides to try and go down.
If Cresiel has another idea, though...
Asking him or...?
Hes going to go down unless Cresiel stops him from doing so.
Deeper in. Deeper into the radiant waters, the light hitting the wine dark waters and piercing through.
In time you see something in the depths - a series of well made huts, all beneath the waters. Fields of seaweed and other aquatic plants can be glimpsed, sea elves skimming about.
It would make sense to find them here.
He comes down to stop at the huts. Hm, a place like this... started with an idea to be underwater, didn't it? It had to have developed from various thoughts about solving a problem.
You stop at the huts, a few sea elves looking your way. As you float there and consider...
Ball is in your court.
Moore offers them a wave.
He turns to Cresiel briefly. He swims forward. "Hello! I'm sorry to bother. Can I speak to someone about the history of this village?" He asks, speaking in elven.
If there's a dialect of sea elven he'd use that.
"The elder can tell you," The sea elf says, "He's in the hut at the end of the village."
"Thank you." Moore says as he goes in that direction!
The hut is rather unremarkable, save for the water being thin within, almost not a factor at all. Here sits an elf like the others, eyes closed. A staff rests on his lap, engraved with iron-shod runes.
"Hmmmm?" He speaks long and slow, vowels drawn out. "Aaaaand whoooooo aaaareeee yoooouuuuuu?"
"My name is Moore, elder. I am a visitor from Lunia." He says, speaking respectfully. "I seek your wisdom of the history of this village."
"Thaaaaaat iiiiiiis nooooo greeeeaaaaaat buuurdeeeeeeen," he says slowly, waters gently sloshing around him.
"Thank you." He says as he awaits a surely looooooong stoooooooryyyyyyy.
It is. To summarize: It is an ancient settlement that has been there as long as any know, and will be as long as it is. IT is known as River's Path and has about 1,000 elves and others who live here. It is peaceful and subsists on simple farming and trade, as well as the treasures of the occasional hero who rises from the ranks here. As sea elves, they are an instrument to see to the will of Deep Sashelas.
"That is good to know," Cresiel says, "Thank you."
"Do you know where the idea for River's Path was born, elder?" Moore asks.
A shake of his head at that, "Iiiiii doooo nooooot."
Moore nods. "Thank you, elder, for your time." He says as he stands up, offers a bow, then turns to leave.
Once you head out, "Did you find anything helpful," Cresiel asks.
"Somewhat." Moore says. "I don't think my answers are here, unfortunately."
"To trust Celestia is wise, but in this case I believe you need a specialist in the obscure," Cresiel states.
Moore chuckles. "I don't think you're wrong." He says.
Remind me, Oghma is in the House of Knowledge?
Yes.
"Then let us choose a different tactic," Cresiel says, "Unless you wish to continue tasting water."
"Let's go talk to Lord Oghma. He ought to have some insight into this." Moore says. "Barring that, perhaps Lady Mystra."
With a gesture, they're off to the House of Knowledge!
I know he met him before and had to go on a bit of a journey to find him -- if there's a way to avoid needing to do that that'd be great, but whatever works. If this is a "go to the embassy" sitution that's fine.
This requires a bit of routine diplomacy, nothing remarkable. In time a simple message is delivered to you.
"We regret to inform you that Lord Oghma is not seeing anyone until further notice."
Cresiel reads it with an open frown, "Dangerous terrain," he says, "To push it or choose safety and move on."
Moore frowns as well.
"What we're after isn't... important enough to pursue, I think." Moore says. "It's not a good enough reason to push this, though I admit a great deal of curiosity."
OOC I have no idea who else might work for this, but I imagine a high enough K:R and Moore would have some ideas of other deities with portfolios around knowledge / ideas.
Sure, gimme K:R as a place to start.
111.
There's a lot of deities who offer the Knowledge domain on checking. Could you narrow down the search a bit?
How about ones that are on especially good terms with Celestia? :)
Angharradh (Jaela's patron if you forgot) has the Knowledge domain.
The other deities of the House of Knowledge also have it, just as an FYI.
Dugmaren Brightmantle is a dwarven exploration deity who has the domain. As the dwarven pantheon's largely located in Celestia, he would qualify.
Speaking of B3, Sehanine Moonbow also has the Knowledge domain.
Moore never did really interact with Angharradh after Tryll's stuff. Let's pursue her. :)
Sure. How are you going to do that?
I'm not really familiar enough with the deity to answer that.
If they have a divine realm, let's go there and see what it requires to have an audience?
Sure. Gimme a Diplo check for general reference.
Take 10 for 120.
Have you been to the Arvandor before, Moore?
If my memory serves correctly, Moore went there with a few people when we were trying to get to Yggdrasil.
Arvandor is forest and beauty as you step within. You have been here before, the feel of the realm much the same. It appeals to you on some level but isn't quite right, but it's close.
"This way," Cresiel says, "We can find a temple to the Seldarine ahead, and that should be enough to make a request."
What was it... play a catchy tune to go to the next level? Something about sitting in a chair...?
Ah, he'll remember if it's important.
"Have you been here frequently?" Moore asks as they go along.
"On occasion," Cresiel says, "In all truth, I see little difference from it and the rest of Arborea. Perhaps there are slightly more elves here and slightly more forest, for what value of that holds."
Moore chuckles as he flies along. "I'm sure someone would argue the finer points of this place with you, given the opportunity."
"Undoubtedly," Cresiel continues along, "Yet we are decidedly elf free. Perhaps that is for the simplest, unless you have opinions about forests?"
"Not strong ones." Moore says. "I feel at home in one, but not... as if I'm home? It's a difficult thing to express."
"Like at a friend's home," Cresiel suggests, "Rather than your own home?"
"Yes, that's a perfect way to describe it." Moore says with a nod as they continue.
He blinks as they go and adds, "You know, It's been a bit over a week since we asked them to look into that demiplane that was supposedly here, I wonder if anything was found yet."
"It may take time," Cresiel says, "Perhaps we should check in first while we're here?"
"We can do so afterwards." Moore agrees. "But you're right, tracking down a demiplane that shares a name with likely hundreds of other things probably isn't easy."
From here it's not too hard to find a temple, considering where Cresiel teleported you. It's a wooden building amid a grove, isolated. Not much else is here. It's simply quiet, shady and seemingly forgotten. A wooden building well made, dappled with sunshine and shade. It's one story and fairly unremarkable in construction, though it does seem to reach a good ways back into the forest.
A simple door is at the front, elegant woodwork spied on it from here.
"Just knock?" Moore asks as he approaches the door to do just that.
Three knocks. Before the fourth the door opens. An elf is here - spry and smiling, a messy mop of brown hair. He is typically slender for an elf, wearing pants a sleeveless tunic, fist and wrist wraps worn.
"Solar," The elf bows his head, "You seek a house of the Seldarine?"
"Moore does," Cresiel says, "Moore?"
Moore bows his head respectfully. "I wish an audience with Angharradh, if possible."
You get a long stare, silence.
Cresiel stands there, his gaze on the elf when he looks back to him.
"You don't..." The elf begins, "Let me take you to the Wised Tree. Perhaps she will meet you if she wills it."
"Thank you." Moore says. "I realize this is a bit sudden."
"A solar showing up, a grand servant of the light and heavens and -"
"Peace," Cresiel cuts in, "Peace, friend." His voice calms the elf right down, "Merely do as you offered to do."
Moore just smiles. "We're a bit unorthodox." He admits.
You are lead deep within, to an interior courtyard. Here elves sit in meditation - dozens of them, all dressed like your host. They sit around a rather short pine tree - no more than double Cresiel's height. It looks utterly unremarkable.
"This tree was planted by the Lord of All Elves," Is the answer to the unspoken question, "It is said that he watches it to this day."
Moore nods to their host and will fly slightly closer to the tree -- he's not sure if it's going to talk itself or if he'll simply get that definite feeling that someone is watching and listening to him as he nears it.
Cresiel follows.
Elves look up and watch the two of you as you approach the tree. Nothing happens - no reaction, no sense of being watched.
Well, if he's going to embarrass himself, he may as well get it out of the way.
He clears his throat and speaks quietly - if clearly. "I have come to seek an audience with Lady Angharradh."
He then will simply wait.
Gimme a raw Charisma check.
[14:18] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+46
[14:19] <Penuche> Nephrite invokes Penuche's magic: < 53 > [d20=7]
Nothing happens immediately - but it is quiet, calm and pleasant here, at least.
Cresiel goes to sit, eyes closed as he joins the elves in meditation.
Moore lingers for a time more, before he decides to sit and do the same thing. There's no harm in that, after all.
Wis check.
It's always wisdom with you...
[14:34] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+22
[14:34] <Penuche> Nephrite invokes Penuche's magic: < 27 > [d20=5]
Being wise is good, isn't it?
You relax and open your mind. It's peaceful here, your thoughts lost amid the considerations of greenery and warmth. You feel better as time passes, though no sign of anyone coming down from on high.
There's not much else for him to do except wait a bit longer. It is him asking for the audience, after all, so he should be patient.
He continues to just relax -- focusing on the idea of... an idea. What forms an idea, what gives it power.
This, he ponders, in this green grove.
How long are you willing to wait?
Let's say 6 hours.
d100 then.
[15:30] <Nephrite> roll 1d100
[15:30] <Penuche> Nephrite invokes Penuche's magic: < 14 > [d100=14]
That's like.,... TWO sevens.
You wait several hours until...
"Moore of Aurora?" A voice asks, feminine and soft.
"Formerly." Moore says as he opens his eyes with a smile, speaking quietly. "But it's still a title I willingly answer to."
A smile. "I know." Mei is there, "How are you, Moore? I haven't seen you in some time, except from afar at Aurora."
Moore blinks, then smiles broadly at her.
He looks very thoughtful for a few moments.
"I was going to try and communicate with you like you used to, Meillarberyl, but you're so much better at that than I am, that I think I'd just embarrass myself." He says with a grin. "I'm doing very well, thank you, I... honestly forgot you were given that gift after everything that happened with Lifasa."
"Oh!" A little gasp and then a smile, "How are you then? How are you, Cresiel? How is everyone in Hope's Landing? I heard Adrian and Misalea are doing well, as is Afina. I'm here for a little while, and I was the one who knew you so I was the one sent to find out why a solar from Celestia was poking around, let alone a Duke. Congratulations, I'd heard since Ebony mentioned it to me, but I hadn't had a chance to congratulate you."
Moore smiles and nods. "I apologize for causing any concern or upset. Everyone is doing quite well -- you and the others really are welcome there any time you wish, so please, don't be a stranger."
He does offer a full bow after that. "Regardless, thank you for your congratulations. I don't think I'm wrong to congratulate you as well, it sounds like you've risen quite a bit yourself in service to the Triune." A big smile follows after that.
"Oh well....now that I can talk I get put on roles that suit it," Mei explains, "Like meeting people, because yesterday we had a guest from Ysgard. A titan named Zanain, he was tall and confident, as well as fun to have around. He laughed so loudly and I wanted to laugh with him." She's smiling as she talks, "But what are you doing here, Moore?"
"I came to seek an audience with Lady Angharradh." Moore explains. "I can go into more detail as to why, if you'd like me to."
"Let's go talk about it outside," Mei says, already hurrying along and out.
Cresiel rises and follows silently, at your side.
Moore will follow her outside!
Once there, he clears his throat. "As you may already know... or, if you don't, you're in for a surprise -- I helped Elena with something, that let her recall a lot of memories she had over the last..." He pauses, and gestures off to the side. "However long it's been. She mentioned something to me that I've taken an interest in trying to learn more about. The long and short of it is that I'm trying to understand the power of ideas and knowledge -- basically, the power behind, say, Lady Angharradh's power over the domain of knowledge. I'm researching something that requires a lot of obscure lore and information, and if I were able to actualize the power behind 'an idea,' as it were, I think it would go a long way to helping."
A blank look, utterly blank.
"...but ideas....are just ideas, they don't have forms or bodies..." Mei replies at last, "Don't they?"
Moore smiles. "I know it seems odd, but maybe think about it like this -- say you have an apple, right? Okay, so you already have an idea of what that apple is and what it looks like. That idea for the apple came from your experiences with apples in the past. Someone else might envision a totally different apple, but it's still an apple. Anyway, go back a thousands years. Do you think the idea for an apple was much different? Maybe. Go back even longer. Longer than that. Go back to the very beginning, when Eldath herself likely created what would eventually be an apple with divine will. Before apples existed, Eldath had a domain over plants, right?"
He stops here for a moment. "My point is that the idea for an apple started somewhere, and continues to evolve, shape and change itself over creation. The same can be said for the idea for knowledge itself, the fundamental building block of experience and information. To give you another example -- take a spell like Divine Insight. It gives you a brief extra boost of power in a certain subject... but where, exactly does that come from? Obviously it's magic, but the magic is powered by the ideas behind it." He explains. "...I'm probably starting to sound a little too much like Tepen with all of this, but I hope you can at least understand what I'm going for."
The look you get is so lost that not even a Find the Path spell could help.
Moore smiles and rubs his chin. "Okay, how about..."
He thinks for a few minutes. "How about thinking about it like this, in terms of magic... think of the school of evocation. What does that do? It makes something from nothing, generally, right, using magic? Well, when to develop a new spell that's an evocation, you could consider it that your ideas and knowledge are combined with magic to create something."
A smile after that. "So take it one step farther -- a concept is something like a formless spell that hasn't been given its form yet. An idea is what you have when you've put the building blocks of the spell together, and knowledge is what you have when you've completed the spell and can summon it from the Weave. Does that... help at all, or am I still just sounding insane?" He asks.
"I'm so lost," Mei finally says. "Completely."
"Okay, then let me try one other way. Where do deities get their powers from?" Moore asks. "What gives them power over their various domains? Or, more succinctly, what is a domain?"
"I...don't know?" Mei finally asks. "Aren't deities powerful because they are deities?"
Moore looks up towards the sky and then back at Mei.
"I mean, that doesn't really make sense in a world where you have mortals who can rise and be deities, does it?" He counters. "If that logic was the only way a deity got powerful, you'd never have any new ones."
A smile after that. "A deity is powerful because they draw power from their domains. They exemplify these things that give them power, and, in turn, give power back to them -- you're right that, ultimately, a deity is powerful because of being a deity, and thus drawing and giving power back to those domains... but until you reach that point, that's certainly not true."
A pause there. "With that in mind, then, what is a domain? It's a concept, it's an idea, made manifest into Creation itself that draws on all the experiences and thus, knowledge, of all things like it. Take the Fire domain for example -- all of the powers a cleric gains by having that domain are related to... Fire, right? But it's not all the same type of fire. There's burning hands, Wall of Fire... do you understand what I'm getting at here?"
"Enough to know when it's best if I simply nod and explain to them that it's a complicated arcane theory," Mei says, "They'll understand."
Moore lets out a laugh. "Sorry, I'd say I'm not normally like this, but I guess as of lately I am. Any help to have an audience would be greatly appreciated."
"I'll see about it, I'll be back soon," Mei says, gone in an instant.
"It's interesting, at first, I didn't really think I had much of a grasp on this either." Moore says. "But after explaining it just now, it honestly makes a lot more sense to me."
Cresiel nods slightly, and after a few moments, "Then praise Raziel, for courage and valor serve again." His voice is bone dry.
"...Sorry, I know this is really boring." Moore says.
"I am not bored," Cresiel says plainly, "I think that was too much of playing the straight man, as they say."
"Hah!" Moore barks. "You're right, you're too good at it sometimes. I've been watching you and I'm impressed with how you've changed since Aurora, though."
"We've survived and grown," Cresiel agrees, "What of yourself, Moore?"
"I know a little more about the world every day." Moore says. "I think the best way to describe it is I have more hope for myself than I have before, I'm more confident in who I am and what I can do."
"You are," Cresiel agrees quietly as you stand amid the open wilds. "You have more purpose."
Moore beams for a moment.
"It certainly wasn't the life I thought I'd lead when I woke up in Venya." Moore says. "I'm not sure even Lord Erathaol could've predicted everything that happened after that, but... I think he had an idea that something was going to happen. I'm just glad every day is a new chance to make life better for someone."
"Destiny lies heavy with you," Cresiel concurs, "Wear it with wisdom and humility."
Moore smiles at that. "I'm sure those around me will ensure I Stay humble."
At that Mei interrupts with her reappearance.
"Aurora carries a lot of weight," Mei says, "I heard that they'll have someone see you, so if you'd come with me," she says, "I can handle the trip."
"By all means." Moore says with a nod.
A blink - and you're in a misty forest. Ahead you can hear the sound of harp music. For ahead on a fallen tree trunk sits an elf. He is tall and with long, silver hair. He (she?) is young and old at once, masculine and feminine together to be undecidable which is which. She (he?) wears robes of mist in gray, blue, green and white, the colors swirling together. The elf strums the harp, beautiful music coming from it, his one good eye closed, the other covered with an eyepatch.
At a glance, do my K checks of 108 or 111 on K:R identify this person?
This is Labelas Enoreth, the elven deity of history, time and the moments of choice. He is the elven historian as well as had some domain over time (but this has slowly lessened since the Temporal Compact, you note). He is a natural philosopher as well as a historian who chronicles the history of the elven races and the Seldarine.
Moore flies forward and offers a deep bow.
He keeps his head low as he straightens, not wanting to rudely interrupt his playing with his words.
Cresiel does the same and is silent.
The song is beautiful - ghostly and distant, complex and hard to understand. Yet it is a beautiful sound, the barest movements of sound as his fingers glide over the harp's strings. When it comes to an end, Labelas Enoreth looks ahead, as if in consideration.
Moore stays there, but does raise his head to smile towards Labelas Enorath!
There is a long and thoughtful look to you before, "You see ideas."
Moore simply nods, as nothing else needs be said, unless he wants a further explanation.
"Sit and enjoy the music. Meditate. Wisdom comes from consideration within, philosophy is that expressed outwards." The deity says, returning to his playing. "What is time? What are ideas? These things..."
Moore will take the invitation and sit.
Before knowledge comes an idea,
Before an idea comes a concept,
Before a concept comes...
This, he ponders.
You've never had any direct experience with chronomancy, have you?
I did run into it once IC but it was fixed outside of my IC knowledge.
He did also meet Father Time and I THINK it was mentioned then?
Okay.
You ponder a time to that music, which seems to make everything simpler and better.
Wisdom check.
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+22 : 8 + 22, total 30[/blockquote]
Your mind drifts as you think. It's peaceful and focuses you before, "You look for the very rootsprings of ideas," The deity says as his music slows, quiet and softer than his voice. "In theory, perfect ideas can be used. Spells beyond the mortal spheres can do so, but only within the bounds of the Weave. You have such a spell known to you."
Moore nods. "Yes, it draws on the power and idea behind libraries." Moore says quietly. "Beyond that... the power of ideas, can it be modified to directly draw on the power of ideas themselves?"
"To reach a perfect library," Labelas Enoreth muses, "I do not know if such a thing exists, but it is an idea worth a great deal of thought."
Moore nods. "I thank you for sharing that wisdom. Do you have any suggestions on where to begin?"
"Whomever made that spell you know," Is the answer you get.
"Thank you." Moore says. "If I may trouble you once more... we seem to be struggling to find the demiplane known as Greenwood, which has its own lore keepers. Would you please set us on the path to its location or owner?"
"I will trade you for it," The sage says at last, "The price is one wholly original thought."
Moore blinks, and then nods.
"Very well." Moore says.
Can you OOC clarify what that means? I'm not clear on what a wholly original thought would be.
I'm gonna run late again today but about to take a short intermission to get food.
This is a case where you should ask him IC.
"I'm happy to oblige, I have to admit I usually trade in magic knowledge or otherwise. I'm unsure as to what a wholly original thought is in your definition." Moore says quietly.
The elf regards you a short time before, "A thought no other being has ever thought," he says at last, "The perfect jewel of a new idea."
Moore hums for a moment.
Has he had anything like that...?
He takes in a breath — yes, of course. His experiences with Sylvie and his desire and drive to save her from 21. There is no other creature in Creation that has those same thoughts or ideas.
"I know one." Moore says.
"Already?" The elf says, "Tell it to me."
"I'm trying to save someone. Not at all a unique premise, of course — but it's who I'm trying to save and what I want to save her from." Moore says.
"A friend of mine is tangled in with 21. She's... somewhere, stuck, and can't escape from it. I have been seeking a way to save her, which is what's led me to you — the search of knowledge and information to complete what I think is a ritual to open the way to her. There may be others seeking this too, but there is no being in Creation who had the same hopes and thoughts on this as I."
A moment's consideration, "I will accept that," the elf deity says at last. "I will mourn for your friend."
Moore smiles brightly. "There is no need to mourn. Only hold hope in your heart for her, as she will no longer be chained to that destiny." He says proudly.
"You know what 21 is," There is a hint of reproach in his voice.
"We do," Cresiel says, "We fear it, but we will not stop."
"I will never give up my hope for a better tomorrow for all of Creation." Moore says firmly.
"Then go with your wisdom," Is the answer, "May it guide you and sharpen your mind for the future."
A small diamond appears in your hand. "When you wish to find the portal to Greenwood, dash this diamond on the ground."
"Thank you." Moore says. "If any are ever in need of hope, send them to me."
He bows his head again, stands and offers another bow, before he will take his leave!
A few steps and you end up back before the secluded temple, as if you never left it.
Is Mei there?
Mei awaits you.
"Oh, you're back. Tell me, what happened, because I'm certain I'll be asked when I get back to Aurora. Jaela will want to hear, so that means Hanna will hear, and Ram will hear too, and I imagine Canderella will want to hear, plus if Adrian comes by he'll want to hear, and I'd just have to tell Elena too." Amid that barrage of questions Cresiel clears his throat.
"Is it not said that gossip is the ravenous river, that washes all those within it from the true path?" Cresiel asks.
"It's important information to know, because Moore's our friend," Mei retorts, "I've been given my voice back and it's Angharradh's will that I use it."
Moore smiles to Mei and then turns and smiles at Cresiel too.
"I've been given wisdom from Labelas Enoreth about how to achieve my goals." Moore says. "Please let Tepen know to expect me, if he isn't too busy."
A beaming, broad smile after that. "You can let Elena know that I'm pursuing her suggestion."
"I'll tell him," Mei promises. "Good luck!"
"Please come visit us sometime." Moore says. "You and everyone else are always welcome."
A smile and a wave before Moore's off back to Hope's Landing!
Home again. A moment to rest if you please, or a moment to do what you will.
Next move?
it'd be rude for us to just barge in on Tepen, so let's go ahead and go to Greenwood with the object we were given. I am assuming we need to be in Arborea for it to work, so Moore will take whomever wants to go and do that.
He will also ask Grias to send a message to the embassy there that they don't need to look for Greenwood anymore.
Oh yes, one question I need to know for DM side stuff: Did you ever message Ilsenine back?
Wow, no -- let me do that. I meant to do it IC when we got back from Tyr, then all the other stuff happened.
Before they do head off to Greenwood, Moore returns to his room to slip Ilsenine's ring on his finger.
...Hm, how can he be sure she isn't in the middle of something?
He experimentally taps the ring on his finger once to make a soft 'clink' noise. Maybe that can be their signal...?
...
...
He does have magic, but where's the fun in that?
Nothing immediately happens.
Moore will wait, then will try again!
He will wait... I dunno, let's say 20 minutes or so and then try again.
Same tactic or a different one?
Same tactic.
Nothing happens.
Oh, maybe it only works with spoken words...?
Either way, he will use his Sending Stone.
'Illsenine, my apologies for not returning your letter sooner. Do you have time to talk now?'
'Ah!' A quiet exclamation. 'A moment, please. I was asleep.'
Huh, has he ever been asleep when he's received a direct message like that...? Come to think of it... no? How odd.
He will wait!
Soon enough, 'How are you, Moore? Is all well? What of Gathgorian?'
Moore will speak into the ring!
"It's a bit of a story. Let me start from the beginning..." He says.
TL:DR, he will explain the being in the Deep Stacks, meeting it, being accosted by Gathgorian, and it's subsequent arrival at Aurora.
"It's... funny, I think, in hindsight, I didn't make the right decision. I actually think we had an opportunity to defeat him in that moment, when he clearly wasn't thinking strategically." He says quietly as he flops back onto his bed to look up at the ceiling. "No... I take that back. I did make the right decision... any decision there was the correct one. There were risks either way."
'...you're right.' Ilsenine finally says once you are silent for long moments. 'Gathgorian is a creature of logic and reason, as much as hatred. If he chose to strike, he was ready. Or his masters were ready.'
"Exactly." Moore says as he sits up. "The risks weren't worth the reward in that situation. If you do go speak to the creature, please don't hold it against it that it's formulated from Gathgorian. Anyway, how are things in the Court? I actually just got back from a trip to Arvandor where I had the pleasure to meet Labelas Enoreth."
'Peaceful. Afina comes and goes as her hunt allows, but her attention is only on Gathgorian," Ilsenine sends. 'I only fear that she has not chosen a prey too mighty for her this time. Gathgorian has become so much more than he was, and...I cannot bear the thought of losing another close friend, not after everything.'
"I have a feeling that she'll be just fine." Moore says with a smile at his ring. "When the time comes, she'll have allies who stand with her. Has Crystal had her child yet?"
'Not yet,' Ilsenine sends back, 'These things do take time.' A very soft chiding, 'But it progresses well.'
"I've lost track of time when it comes to that sort of thing..." Moore admits with a bit of a laugh. "Please give my regards to everyone there, and let them know they're always welcome to come visit here if they wish. Yourself included, of course."
'I will,' Ilsenine says, 'Be safe Moore, be safe and careful.'
"Of course." Moore says with a smile.
Okay, NOW let's go to Greenwood. Hit up the Blessing Stone before we go, and whoever else can go with Moore who wants to.
It's Kaja's turn and Jetina will come along as well in case you need repairs. You may just. Cresiel will come if you feel you need a guard.
I doubt we'll run into trouble there. If we do, Jetina and Kaja are sufficient.
If the crystal we got only works in Arborea, then they will go there first.
Once you use the crystal, it leaves you through a portal to a quiet place in the forest. A tiny grove with thick forest all around you. In that tiny grove a green portal manifests as you approach.
Moore makes a mental note of where this is in case he needs to come back again.
He steps forward to enter the green portal!
Huh. As you approach a force pushes you back as a male voice asks, "Who comes?"
"Hello." Moore says. "My name is Moore, Duke of Songs of Celestia, in service to Lord Erathaol of the Hebdomad. I am in search of knowledge and lore and I read about Greenwood."
At this there is no reply, but no force stopping you, either.
"Thank you." Moore says as he again proceeds!
You step in...and appear in a room of mirrors. Mirrors all around you, showing the party many times over. Some show you as normal, some show you too tall or too wide. Others show you in different colors while one shows you nude. Another shows you as the opposite gender, while yet another portrays you as figments of light. So many mirrors here, the only gap a simple door ahead.
Peculiar...
Moore proceeds ahead to the door to attempt to open it!
Hopefully there are no riddles or puzzles this time...
Jetina blushes lightly but ignores a certain mirror, as Kaja comes along.
"Strange," he remarks as the door opens. A chime sounds followed by, "Hello there!" A voice calls from down a hall, no one seen. "I'm being told you're Duke Moore. Come on down, this is a bit of pageantry."
"Hello!" Moore returns the greeting. "I apologize for showing up uninvited, it's a bit difficult to find a name associated with this particular place -- probably intentionally, so I wasn't able to announce my intent before this."
He proceeds down the hall!
As you walk down, another door ahead? "Well, why don't you tell me why you're here in the first place?"
"I'm trying to finish a rather detailed arcane project." Moore explains as he heads for the door. "I did research into various libraries and places that might contain information that could help me with it, and found some writings on this one, so I decided to pursue it. A few adventures here and there later and here I am."
"Oh, so you want to learn more," Is the answer, "Well, we can work something out if you made the effort to find this place."
"That's the long and short of it." Moore says as he goes to open the door. "I'd be happy to hear about the history of this particular place, if you're up for sharing it, as well as who you are."
It opens into a loose forest - more open space with lots of tall oak trees. Each oak tree has a face - alive, a treant of some kind you believe. It stretches on farther than you can see.
"It's said Queen Morwel has a library like this," The voice says. A little pixie, no bigger than you. It's a female pixie, who switches voices entirely. She has blonde hair and a ready smile, "Hi!" she says, "I'm Mini and I work here. I didn't know a pixie could be a Duke, but then I saw you outside and I just had to let you in and boss agreed, so here we are," she darts forward, wearing a riot of purple, blue, orange and pink clothes. You get a pixie hug, "Everyone must be so proud of you!"
Moore gives Mini a pat on her back to return the hug. "I'm not sure about everyone, but I certainly have my work cut out for me." He says. "It's a bit of a story as to how I ended up where I did, I'm sure it's the same for you -- working in a place like this must carry with it an awful lot of stories just by its very nature. Are you at liberty to explain things to me, or would your boss prefer to do that?"
Jetina smiles at that hug, watching, while Kaja looks about.
"Oh, I can tell you about everything except what I'm not supposed to, which is the secret level and how to break out of the boundaries," Mini says, "I'm especially supposed to tell you that services, favors and arcana are expected of course, but I'm sure you knew that coming in and cooperating or not these things have value, and things that have value require payment or favors, like when I get someone a drink that's a tiny little favor, but when I save a life that's a really big favor."
Moore nods. "All right, that all makes sense. Well, I'm not really... sure how to figure out the price since I'm not sure how much what I'm looking for here is worth, but we can figure that out as we go. I'm sure we can conduct business beyond what I'm seeing as well."
"Oh, that's great," Mini goes right along, "So tell me what you're looking for!"
Moore takes out his notes on the research he's made so far and offers them over.
"Anything to help with this." He explains. "Probably anything on portals, or that that sort of thing would help with it as well."
The notes are looked at, "Oh, that's really different!" Mini says, "You're working on a portal to somewhere you really shouldn't go, but you're really dedicated to it if you've gotten this much lore about it already."
"Well, it would sound I'm in the right place to learn more about it, then." Moore says with a smile.
"I've learned a lot of lore," Mini says, "Let me take a crack at it, and I can tell you who can help after that."
"By all means. In the meantime, is there anything specific that you think you'd like in trade?" Moore asks. "I can think of a few spells I've developed, or just general information..." He rocks back and forth as he flies, thinking. "Favors are good too, of course, my comrades and I are good at smashing evil, if that's something you need done."
"Me? For my services?" Mini considers before smiling, "Cold, hard gold coins. Nothing beats shiny piles of gold everywhere."
Moore nods. "Easy enough." He says. "You sure you're not a half-dragon too?" He asks, with a glance over to Kaja.
Kaja's expression is not amused, "There's lot of common sense reasons to take gold-" Kaja begins.
"No, but I did date a shapechanged dragon once," Mini doesn't look up from your notes. "But he cheated on me with a treant and then an astral dreadnought."
"Ah, I'm sorry to hear that." Moore says. "Do you still travel much, with working here? Ah -- apologies, I'll ask my questions after you're done."
"An astral..." Kaja mouths, staring.
"Oh, some, but I'm mostly busy here." Mini works away, "Don't worry, I can walk and talk and read and work too. Don't you know that doing more things at once make you do them all better?"
"Is that how it works?" Moore asks. "I suppose they do say practice makes perfect, so if you can train yourself to think of a variety of things at once..." Moore says with a smile and a shrug. "Well, you've clearly been here a while, did you just stumble on this place, or have you always had a desire to learn?"
"Well, I came here after the whole fight with that hoard of pirates in Water," Mini says, "That got complicated, and then they talked to the marid and they got upset, and so they had those bounty hunters get involved, and one of them turned out to be a runaway prince so a royal family got involved, and in turn got a large sect of whatshisname involved, and it kept getting worse and worse."
"Oh, I see." Moore says, nodding along as if all of that is completely normal. "It can be difficult when bounty hunters get involved, they always show up at the worst times, really. Come to think of it, I don't think I've dealt with pirates in a long time... I guess you don't really have a lot of pirates at the level we're at, since if you're that notorious you're really just asking for someone to come and rough you up..."
"Well, I seem to attract them," Mini grouses, "Then of course you know all those nixies got involved, but they were the ones who went swimming in that arcane waste and became spell warped and got all those hounds as battle mounts, the ones who grew wings from the same waste, and then some also grew two or three more heads, and they'd have a nixie on each one with a bow and arrow, so I was constantly dodging arrows. Then they bound a handful of arrow demons too and a couple of erinyes archers for good measure."
"I know someone who I think you'd get along very well with, with a courre partner. I think you all could share stories sometime." Moore says. "Well, if you're ever interested in visiting where I call home, you're welcome at Hope's Landing. I promise that no one will fire demon arrows at you there."
"Hope's Landing..." A pause, "That's in Lunia? I have a friend who was just there and mentioned getting an obsidian dagger. Good stuff, obsidian, if you want to go for fire enchantments, like the time I was hunting magma whales in Fire. Unfortunately not so good against them, since they have a crust of semi dried volcanic stone around them, because they solidify the rock and cool it around themselves with how they gather in energy through heat rather than eating."
"Oh, yes." Moore says. "Word travels fast, I suppose. Really, magma whales?" Moore says. "We ran across a tower there on Fire that had been dimensionally displaced some... thousands of years ago. There were some spirits still trapped there, poor things, but we got that all sorted out, so that was good. Oh, we met a half-dragon lava lizard too, I thankfully got him to go to Celestia with all his lava lizard friends, so that was a good win." He nods proudly afterwards, as if to cement the point.
In case you missed it, you have a realm post.
"Lava lizards? Aren't those salamanders?" Mini hms as she works, "Or small red dragons or baby gold dragons, or maybe pyroclastic dragons, and what about lava dragons or lava drakes, and those half elemental wyverns I met one time, and watch out for burning poison by the way if you ever do."
"They were like shocker lizards but with Fire, so I called them lava lizards. I think salamanders are a little different." Moore says. "We do need to go rather deep into Fire to find something anyway, so I'll be wary of the burning poisons." He says with a nod.
"On the other hand - oh, if you come across a female human paladin who is sort of a phoenix as well, she's friendly." Mini works, "She's as much bird as human, though, so bear that in mind. Don't let her peck your face if she gets angry. She meanders around Fire the last I met her."
"I'll keep that in mind if we cross paths." Moore says as he lets Mini do her work.
Really though, a pixie named Mini...?
"I know those who would pay to be pecked on the face by a pretty paladin," Kaja remarks.
Jetina has to smother a small laugh at that, "You have a...colorful life, Mini."
Mini nods and works away in the meantime.
"Maybe pixies are just naturally magnets for that sort of thing." Moore says. "Thank you for your help on this, either way."
Soon enough.."Here you go," Mini reports, "This should help."
Moore takes a look!
108 on the Ks and 103 on Spellcraft if needed.
It is actual help, not a ton but it contributes.
3 pieces. Total?
422
"Ah, that does help a bit." Moore says. "Thank you. Does that give you insight into who else may be able to help us with this, or other resources we might want to draw on?"
"Yeah, I know just the old treant," she says, fluttering along, "Come on!"
Moore will dutifully follow!
Give me a Perception check as you go.
take 10 for 92
It's a fairly long walk in this treant filled place. You come to one in particular, one snoozing away. Snoring really as you approach, "That's him...or her...trees?" Mini shrugs, "Go say hi!"
Is that the secret of this place? It's just all treants?
He flies up to the tree and clears his throat. "Ah, hello, excuse me!" Moore yells, quietly as to try and not get every other tree upset, hopefully loud enough for this one.
Sorry for the delay, dog slipped and had an accident because of it. Poor old dog.
The treant's 'eyes' open, "Afternoon," he greets, "A good day for lore."
"Hello. My name is Moore, from Celestia." He greets. "I am seeking aid for a project." He flies closer and shows his notes up.
See having to bathe dog after all of that, and raise slipping and hurting my back.
"What curious notes," The treant says, "A portal?"
"It seems like it creates a portal to somewhere. I have a few guesses as to where it goes, but I can't be sure." Moore says. "It's certainly somewhere that normal people can't get to."
"I can see, I can see," The treant says slowly, "You want my advice on it?"
"Please." Moore says.
The treant hums to himself, working away.
Gimme the checks.
108 on Knowledges and 103 on Spellcraft respectively. :)
The lore discussion is fruitful enough - a good deal of time leaves you that much closer, more and more of it filling in now. A sense of progression and acceleration, that much closer to it.
28. Total?
450.
"Oh, that's great!" Moore says. "Thank you very much. What can I give you in return for this, elder?"
"I want a colony of the best pixies to help take care of me, as well as a superb dryad," The tree says, "Not any ordinary fey, but the best of the best."
"I will see what I can do." Moore promises him. "I can think of a few off the top of my head who'd enjoy this."
"Remember: The best!" The treant demands, "The dryad should be stacked, too!"
Quietly, "Why would he even care?" Jetina murmurs to Kaja, who eloquently shrugs.
Moore nods and turns to Mini. "Thank you as well, I'm sure I owe you for your time, but if there's any other business we can do together, I'm all for it."
Mini says, "Come back sometime, you're fun to talk to. Just watch out for phoenix paladins and magma whales!"
Moore nods. "You're welcome in Hope's Landing anytime, and if you or anyone here need anything, please let me know. I'm sure your boss knows too, but he's part of that too."
Thus you head back and...
Next move?
You know, that's a great question. I suppose let's see about the cursed lore. Can he magic-ify it to figure out how it's cursed, first?
Sure, gimme Spellcraft.
Take 10 for 103, then.
It is cursed - nasty but nothing overwhelming. A sufficiently powerful remove curse should do it.
[22:57] <Nephrite> roll 4#1d20+20 dispels
[22:57] <Penuche2> Nephrite invokes Penuche's magic: < 24, 38, 37, 22 >
These are Greater Dispels, which should function as remove curse in this situation.
With enough magic, you are able to end the curse. It's nasty but hardly up to your level of threat.
Moore will look through the lore, safely!
108 and 103 on Knowledges and Spellcrafts.
It's just a few fragments that are new, most of it familiar - but it helps, just a little bit.
2 points. Total?
452.
Moore sits back to look out a window. "Maybe it's time to go 'there,' after all..." He takes in a breath and goes to gather his party before venturing forth.
Thus you get the party together. This begs but one thing:
"Where are we going?" Kaja asks.
"I think it's time we go to the Deep Stacks." Moore says. He turns to Cresiel. "I know your warning from the last time we were there -- this isn't about Sylvie, and I don't want to make it sound like I'm going there for her, but I do think going there will help with the matter of her, and I..."
He clears his throat. "I admit I'd like to meet the 'other' me, if possible. I think it may give me insight into One, or other things."
"I fear it may be a great a risk as it could be a boon," Cresiel says, "We know little of what we truly venture with in the Deep Stacks. Are we so deprived of options that we must try it?"
Here Jetina considers a moment, "We may be," she says at last, "Or Moore has more insight to it than us."
Kaja blows out a bit of flame, "Was it all truly so bad?"
"I don't think we're completely out of options that it remains our only one." Moore says. "I just think it has a lot of potential. You're right that there are likely a lot of risks involved as well. I don't oppose the idea of not going yet, but I think we should go... eventually."
"I suggest that we save it until we need it," Cresiel declares, "We need not risk when there are other paths still untrod."
"Boring," Kaja says, "If sensible."
Xandra merely says, "Why do you want to meet a Moore who isn't really Moore?"
"I... have a gut feeling that it... will help, in some way." Moore says. "It's hard to put into words, exactly, but considering my eventual goal with everything... being able to see 'myself' from a different perspective could be enlightening."
He taps his chin. "I think we went through all the libraries that I looked up, except for the Terminal Archives, which... I'm rather loathe to even consider as an option, to be frank. I feel like we can find the information elsewhere."
"What other options do we have right now?" Cresiel asks, "Besides a return to the Deep Stacks?"
"I can do more research." Moore says. "A..h..." He blinks. "Oh! I never thought to ask, but I imagine Sisatar may know of a few."
"We have a reason to meet him soon, too," Xandra points out.
"I didn't want to burden him at such a special occasion." Moore admits.
"I suspect this is more for Ruby than Sisatar," Xandra says, "I expect her to be...Kaja, do dragons preen?" A curious look passes over Xandra's face, "I've never thought to find out."
"She will be radiant with her own wishes met, but dragons do not preen," Kaja says the last bit firmly, "Birds preen. A phoenix or a roc would preen. A dragon would not preen."
"Fair enough." Moore says. "I suppose it can wait, in that case. Hm... Perhaps I should just do more research on possible places for us to go to search, then. We do have the Wheel, still, but I think that takes a backseat to this."
"Besides, we need more on the Fire part," Kaja says, "Unless we want to wander caverns again."
"Well, I was thinking about that." Moore says. "We know where the piece on Earth is, it just may be a challenge to get it. I think if we have that, we might be able to use it to find the others."
"Remind me of that," Kaja says, "Damaxos, wasn't it?" He scratches at the side of his head, "We've been busy! Busy as Tiamat's hoard minders."
"Close. Danaxmos." Moore says. "It's on Earth, and I know exactly where it is. Grumbar said it wasn't to be harmed, so I'm curious if I can convince it to give the piece up. If not, then we'll just have to get it by force and do as little damage as possible."
"How strong is it?" Jetina says at last, "It sounded really strong, however."
"I would imagine it's quite powerful." Moore says. "I don't think it'd be impossible for us to fight, if we had to, assuming our goal was to just get the piece of the wheel we needed and then get out."
"Regardless, if we're to research, let's research," Cresiel speaks up.
Next move?
It sounds like Moore is looking into more libraries.
Cool. Where and how?
Hmm. The best place is probably Xiranthador. He will ask around there for staff who might have knowledge, perhaps about where certain books came from? If they receive a lot of donations from any particular places, for example.
Sure. For reference Xandra will go with you, it's her turn on the Watch Moore-o-meter.
Gimme an K:A check and a Diplo check to cover the mundane work here.
108 and 120.
You've combed Xiranthador before and do it again, hoping for more leads. Your first try uncovers one: The Hound's Library. It's said to be in Mechanus somewhere and ran by a hound archon. It's referenced a few times mostly, as well as noted as being a place that's donated to this library before.
Moore will jot that one down and see if he can find two or three more.
d100.
[blockquote]Rolled 1d100 : 31, total 31[/blockquote]
You manage to dig even more and find a second potential library - the Crypt of Books, said to be a resting place for books. Whatever that means, but they donate on occasion.
For now, it seems like these will do.
Before he returns, he uses his sending stone.
'Hi Tepen. Would you have time for me to visit? I have some magical theory to discuss with you. You're also welcome to come here, if you'd like.'
'Why Moore, you can come over whenever you need to. Once I get the cow off the roof again.'
'I'll be over soon.' He sends.
"If you'd like to go with me you can, itd be good to check the strength of that circle we made before." Moore says to Xandra as he puts his notes away.
"No, the one place we trust you not to get kidnapped is Lifasa, sometimes," Xandra says, entirely serious.
"Fair enough. I'll meet up with you later, then." He says.
He will plane shift himself to Tepens House. Perhaps he can help him with cow remooooval.
Huh. Sure enough, there's a cow on the roof. Tepen watches it and calls, "Come on, over here," he coaxes, all while the cow looks content atop here.
Moore guesses there's a reason magic won't work, so he decides to fly over and just try himself.
"I know you're comfortable up here, but would you please moove along?" He asks, confident in his dipmooacy.
Take 10 for 120 if it matters.
This would fall under handle animal. Do you have ranks?
I have Wild Empathy which I think let's me still use diplomacy? If not yes, he can still fake a handle animal check for 89.
Good enough.
The cow hops on down at your request, going back to grazing.
Tepen exhales, "At last," he says, "Now, would you like to come in?"
Moore pats the cow on the head.
"Please. I have a bit to explain." Moore says. "I think this is right up your alley, though."
Thus you go in and over refreshments...
Go ahead, expo pixie.
"I'd like to hear about how you created Bibliotheca Arcana." Moore says. "I'm working on a forgotten theory of Medi's that one can actually draw knowledge directly from the root of ideas themselves. Think of it like attempting to draw on the power that gives deities a domain in the first place, and tapping those domains. In this case, I would be focusing on the knowledge domain."
"That seems exceptionally dangerous," Tepen warns. "But...I trust you enough." He sips his tea before, "It was Sylvie who honed the seed properly, we refined it. A connection to knowledge, the idea of it and then a library instead because that's where knowledge gather. Vul'lath and I did the actual spell work, but her theory was sound - insightful as she always is about matters arcane. She seemed to see right to the truth of the matter, and we worked from that base. Nothing forbidden I think."
A glance out the window, a moment to collect himself. "Nothing forbidden, but obscure. She hit on some point of lore I doubt we'd have found in a long time, if ever. It was one of our talks, actually. We were all up late and talking this or that, and a conversation got away from us."
Moore smiles. "It's for a good cause, and I have... let's say a blessing to seek it out." Moore says. "Would you mind if I looked at the theories myself? I'm not Sylvie, but... I think I understand now why I've been set on the path to look into this."
"I have a copy of the work," Tepen agrees, getting up. "I'll be right back with them."
Moore nods and waits!
The underwater elf city, seeing an elf deity... it's all making sense.
Notes are produced and given over. "These should be it," Tepen says.
Moore will give them a look!
Take 10 for 108 on Knowledges and 103 on Spellcraft.
He will also compare Calleys research with these to see if there are any similar points of interest.
We're running late, but a short break for canine.
Give me a reply back so I know you're ready for another post.
Good dog
It's pretty dense stuff, but you've dealt with spells of this caliber before. You think that maybe this could be helpful, but you'd need serious time and research on what it provides.
"Do you feel up for trudging through this again from a different angle?" Moore asks. "If you don't have time, I understand."
"As long as you deal with the cow," Tepen waves it off, "I could use something intellectually stimulating."
"Diplomacy takes many forms." Moore says.
Hah, I forgot my bonuses from Lifasa, but that's fine. Anyway, plan will be to reverse engineer this into a potential spell or ritual or... something to tap into the power of ideas themselves, likely as a subset of the knowledge domain.
Moore will send notification to Hopes Landing to notify him if any emergencies and of where he will be.
You send notifications.
'Moore,' Cresiel sends back, 'You have research and lore from Seira, awaiting you. Xandra believes it is promising.'
'I'll come pick it up.' Moore sends.
He may as well go, get it, then go back to Tepen and suss our the lore details.
If he can do the checks on Lifasa, they're 112 for the Knowledges 107 on Spellcraft.
Sure.
It's a wealth of new info: Some repeats but a few more pieces, which helps other pieces fit in nicely. Progress!
68 pieces. Total?
That brings us to 520. Home stretch!
Can he determine at all WHERE this goes yet?
Give me a separate Intelligence check.
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+30 : 11 + 30, total 41[/blockquote]
It's Beyond and not, here and there, everywhere and nowhere.
In other words something that may be impossible, or somehow making it all work.
"I knew it." Moore murmurs. "It's a special prison..."
He takes a breath. "I'll save you." He says.
For now... to this research!
Give me K:A and Spellcraft here, then a second K:A check. Second check can't take 10.
112 and 107 respectively.
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+102 : 16 + 102, total 118[/blockquote]
You're just getting into it, working away when...
"Moooooooooore!" Grias calls, "You have visitors."
"It looks like I have some business. Excuse me, Tepen." Moore says.
He will, indeed, return to Hope's Landing to see the visitors!
One trip back and you find Alyssa waiting for you, who...
Go ahead.
Moore raises a hand in greeting. "Lady Alyssa, it's good to see you again. To what do I owe the pleasure?"
Alyssa greets Moore warmly, "Lord Moore, it's good to see you again. I've come about this."
Alyssa withdraws the book from her pack and offers it to Moore.
"Oh! You're done with it, then?" Moore asks while he takes it back. "What's been going on with you for the last few weeks?" He asks as he turns, gesturing for her to follow him back to the sanctity of his room.
"Yes, I've finished it and discovered the path to One. I kicked a Shar foothold off of Ash and talked to the new Archomental there. Sadly we weren't able to establish a solid relationship, but they let slip that there are many new Shar Outposts there."
"Really, on Ash?" Moore asks. "Ugh, what an awful place, but that doesn't surprise me much."
A pause here. "Regardless, I'm glad you've found your path to it. I don't think I'm quite ready for it myself, but I'm working on it." A bit of a smile after that. "After the war on Fire concluded, I've been going about just finding things here and there to do. If you need any help with anything happening on Ash, or want to coordinate multiple attacks, please feel free to let me know, I'd be happy to help."
Alyssa nods, "You might try making contact with the Archomental. I couldn't come to an agreement, but you may. If you do, we can conduct joint strikes against targets. Shar had a nasty pseudo-void realm we got pulled into. Two of her champions were there.
As far as the One goes, I'm not quite set up for it either. Yet. But I have a plan to help with that. Though I wonder if you've found any hints at making it more likely to succeed? You've been studying it longer than I have."
"I think the Words have something to do with it, but I can't say that for absolute certainty. I think having the powers of both law and chaos- that is, the power of an anarch, would be helpful as well." He says. "I don't know if you're familiar with her, but Antenora Reynes, also went through that process, so she may have some advice for you as well."
Here he pauses and thinks for a moment. "My understanding is that you can bring something with you... a memento of yourself or something tied to you, I'm not sure how it works exactly but I think it can be used to your benefit."
"Emily knows her, I think. The words... Perhaps a lesson or two could provide us both insights?"
"I'm certainly happy to try and help." Moore says with a smile.
"And I'm forever an eager student. When would be convenient for you?"
"Now is fine. I have a project I'm working on on the side, but there's no reason to make you wait while I do that, since it may take a few days or longer." Moore says. "I remember last time you were just trying to start using them -- if I might give you a piece of advice with them, they're... mm... without giving too much a way, they're exactly what they say they are. I think focusing on that aspect of them would do you well."
Alyssa nods. "Then let's go somewhere comfortable and begin."
Moore nods and will take Alyssa to a spot near his room, but outside in the grassy fields where the Light Above can shine down.
"I know Xandra helped a lot with this last time, so let me get her to come and help again -- two heads are better than one, after all." Moore says with a grin.
'Xandra, can you please make some time to help Miss Alyssa train a bit with the Words?' he sends her.
"Ah, yes. I have to thank her for her gift."
"Gift?" Moore asks. "Did she send you something?"
"Yes a bag of holding full of weapons. Flawed but excellent display pieces. They'll be placed in our main hall."
Shortly Xandra emerges, "Alyssa," she greets, "Welcome."
"You didn't tell me you gave her any of those obsidian weapons." Moore says, a jokingly chiding tone. "You can pretty easily fix them with magic, if you want to. If you need more, we took over the anvil that was being used to make them on our outing. I'm not sure why you'd need more of them, but... you never know!"
"Hello! Thank you for the gift. I'll be putting them up in our main hall with a plaque for you.
As for the anvil... I'm a blacksmith. I'll take any anvil you offer."
"I think it's still on Fire, unless they moved it." Moore says. "If you're curious about it, please speak to Lord Romiel, he's the one who was handling the matter."
"I didn't?" Xandra frowns, "My apologies, I must have forgotten."
Then to Alyssa, "You're welcome."
Alyssa nods, "I'll use your name as an introduction if you'll allow me to."
Moore just beams at Xandra. "It isn't a big deal at all." He waves his hand dismissively and then nods to Alyssa. "Yes, that's not a problem at all!"
A nod back to Xandra. "I'm not sure how you'd suggest we go about this, but I have my flute ready if we want to go that route."
Alyssa nods, "Whatever you think is best."
"Come with me," Xandra says, leading the three of you up into the sky. You go to a rock ledge well above Hope's Landing, just enough space for the two of you to sit.
"Now then..." Xandra begins, "Are you ready to proceed, and do you need anything before we begin?"
"I'm ready."
Moore will draw his flute that makes the impossible just a bit more possible with a smile.
Let's get started with an Int check, Alyssa.
Int:
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+12 : 6 + 12, total 18[/blockquote]
Gimme a second one? I'll do a few at once since the first isn't immediately telling.
Int'
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+12 : 13 + 12, total 25[/blockquote]
Alyssa feels like she's making slow progress - not great, but she's not stuck. It's just slow, hard going right now.
Feel free to keep trying.
Int:
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+12 : 2 + 12, total 14[/blockquote]
Ow. Give me a Fort save.
Fort/Cunning Insight:
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+36 : 18 + 36, total 54[/blockquote]
> roll 20d4
<Penuche2> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 58 > [d4=1,4,4,4,4,3,1,3,3,4,4,4,4,1,4,1,4,1,1,3]
Full damage but nothing else.
You work the words and feel a jab of pain, a drain from within. A mistake, a flash of pain from it.
Alyssa winces and rubs her temple, muttering a quick Heal spell.
"Well that was wrong."
"It did not seem as a critical misstep," Xandra notes, "Can you continue?"
"Until I get it or my brain melts."
Int:
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+12 : 4 + 12, total 16[/blockquote]
Give me Fort again.
Fort/Cunning Insight:
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+36 : 2 + 36, total 38[/blockquote]
> roll 20d4
<Penuche2> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 52 > [d4=2,2,4,3,1,3,1,4,4,4,2,4,2,4,1,1,3,2,3,2]
Another mistake, more pain. You endure but it hurts, leaving you reeling.
Alyssa inhales sharply at the pain and shakes her head to clear it.
"Moore, would you happen to know any magic to make this go more smoothly?"
Basically, asking if there is any non-enha cement +int spells or morale bonuses that can be thrown around. Or some sort of assisted check since this is basically a tutoring session.
"There's not really any magic to make it go easier." Moore says. "But... Here, try repeating after me, maybe that will give you some insight into it."
Moore will drop a Heal on her anyway. : )
IC, he's just going to try some basic Words of Creation things, like how he augments his bardic abilities, and see if she can follow along and do the same.
Sure. No checks needed for you Moore, that's basic. Alyssa, gimme an Int check with a +3 bonus, let's say.
Int:
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+15 : 19 + 15, total 34[/blockquote]
Nice. Gimme a second check to check for something.
Int:
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+15 : 14 + 15, total 29[/blockquote]
You press on - and you feel something closer, some progression. You feel like you're about to break through on something. Almost there.
Alyssa doubles down and works through it with Moore!
Give me one more check with a +7 bonus now.
Int:
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+19 : 18 + 19, total 37[/blockquote]
You feel something settle into you - some truth of the Words, some understanding of them. It hurts, but at the same time you understand them, understand them in a way that makes sense for you, that resonates within you.
Refresh me, have you gained any powers or bonus feats fro this yet?
You linked me to the wrote up of it and said I had the first level of stuff I think?
Here you go:
http://www.soulriders.net/forum/index.php/topic,104245.msg1138029.html#msg1138029 (1st time)
http://www.soulriders.net/forum/index.php/topic,104314.msg1150592.html#msg1150592 (I believe this is the second time)
Thanks, Moore. You're bestest pixie (in B6, don't let Afina get me).
At last something snaps into place, some final advancement where it all makes sense. Sense in a raw, primal way. You grasp something, impossible and yet yours, at least for this moment.
You gain the following special quality.
Words (Ex)
You are able to speak words of power, tied to the same power as the Words of Creation and the Dark Speech. By studying them you can learn such words and speak them. Using the words is hazardous to your health and inflicts a toll, usually in the form of nonlethal damage.
You know the following use of the Words to begin with and can learn more.
You know the Creation ability of the Words of Creation (BoED, pg 32).
Alyssa closes her eyes and takes a deep breath.
"... I've got it. A bit of it. Something new just... Slid into place. Thank you, both of you for your help."
"Congratulations," Xandra says warmly, "Whatever did you obtain?"
"Yes, I'm rather curious myself." Moore says as he pats Alyssa gently on the back.
I don't have access to the book right now so I'm going to be intentionally vague here.
"Creation. It's the first step of it."
"A good first step," Xandra praises, "Do you understand where you wish to go from here?"
"I'll have to think on this ability. Experiment with it a bit and see where it leads me. More immediately, I want to figure out that trick you're working on with the One, to improve my chances."
"I admit, I think that one will be a bit of a challenge." Moore says. "I don't want to suggest it until you have a little more practice, as it's... rather straining, even for me right now. However, I'm very close to figuring out something else which I think will help. I'm rather close on that research I think I mentioned to you I was working on."
Alyssa nods slowly, "Hmm... Well, if you need help with any research, let me know. For now, though, I think this is a good pause to our tutoring."
"If you come across any notable libraries in your travels, please let me know." Moore says with a smile. "That will be enough for me."
"I've found one, actually. An ancient hoard on knowledge that was being protected by nagas. I've worked something out with them and was able to get access and transcribe it. Feel free to come to my realm and make use of it."
"Oh, excellent. Is there anything I should bring as a gift to the naga in that case? I don't want to be rude." Moore says. "I can just bring them a sum of gold, if you think they'd accept that."
Alyssa shrugs, "Going by yourself would be troublesome. I had to fight them to earn the right. I can go with you, but if you want to go alone, I'll send them a message. Gold is probably good enough. Or a spell they don't know. I have most of it transcribed in the library at my school, too."
"I can be rather intimidating, so if they decide to try and start something..." Moore smiles and nods. "I'll bring a gift, and if they insist on a test of strength then I will demonstrate it for them."
Alyssa nods, "They're quite uppity. Big fish in a small pond."
Moore nods. "Don't be a stranger, especially if anyone's in need of hope. Feel free to come back anytime." He says.
Okay, new topic time.